Okay, let’s dive into a heated debate: What’s the best kind of pizza—New York or the deep-dish style found in Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis?
People are incredibly passionate about this topic.
Fans of deep-dish pizza adore the buttery crust that forms a hearty base for layers of cheese, toppings, and chunky tomato sauce. It’s more like a savory pie, with a focus on the filling and a longer baking time. In some areas like Detroit, the sauce is actually placed on top of the pie.
On the flip side, New York-style pizza is characterized by its thin, foldable crust that’s crispy along the edges and soft in the center. It’s typically larger and cut into triangular slices.
While both styles have their merits, fans of the New York style—at least those in the Cape Fear region—have something to celebrate. According to the Washington Post, the best New York-style pizza in North Carolina can be found at Fentoni’s Pizzeria in Carolina Beach.
The newspaper analyzed 7.5 million Yelp reviews and developed a formula to identify the best pizza styles across the country. Located on the Boardwalk at 9 Carolina Beach Ave. N., Fentoni’s opened for business in 2020 and is situated right next to Britts Donut Shop.
Jethro C of Chapel Hill, a Yelp reviewer of Fentoni’s, wrote: “This is not just good pizza for Carolina Beach or Eastern North Carolina; it’s pizza that would not be out of place in New York. The right ingredients, properly made, and never-undercooked slices. Somebody really knows what they’re doing here.”
Stephanie H, another reviewer, said: “The best NY-style pizza ever! It’s thin with a crisp bottom but still foldable, and the end crust is a bit chewy. O M G, I regret they are closed on Tuesdays because I planned to return daily while I’m at Carolina Beach. Yes, it’s that delicious!”
During the summer, Fentoni’s Pizzeria opens a by-the-slice window for quick service. They make the dough and sauce in-house. In addition to pizzas, you can find cheesesteaks, appetizers, strombolis, and calzones. From October to Memorial Day, the restaurant only sells complete pies with options of a 14-inch, 18-inch, as well as a Sicilian-style pizza.
For deep-dish pizza fans, according to the Washington Post, you’ll need to head to the western part of the state. The best Detroit-style pizza was found at Pi Squared Pizza in Hendersonville, with the best Chicago-style pizza coming from ACME Pizza in Holly Springs.”